Question: “Pastor Ronald, puwede po ba maging Sabadista kahit hindi na naniniwala kay Ellen White?”

Answer:

Good question, and very real observation. Hindi lang ikaw ang napapansin ‘yan pati maraming former Adventists worldwide ay napapansin na rin ang trend na ‘to. Sa totoo lang, marami nang mga SDA ngayon ang “cultural Adventists” na lang. Ibig sabihin, lumaki sila sa Adventism, sanay sila sa Sabbath lifestyle, pero hindi na talaga sila naniniwala sa prophetic authority ni Ellen G. White. Parang “born Adventist, but not believing Adventist.”

Here’s the issue: Pwede bang SDA pero reject si Ellen White?

Kung basehan natin ay official doctrine ng Seventh-day Adventist Church, hindi puwedeng sabihin na “faithful SDA” ka kung tinatanggihan mo si Ellen G. White. Ayon sa Fundamental Belief #18 (“The Gift of Prophecy”), ang SDA Church ay naniniwala na natupad kay Ellen G. White ang gift of prophecy at tinawag siya mismo nilang “the Lord’s messenger.” Idinagdag pa nila na “Her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth.”

So, kung hindi mo tinatanggap si Ellen White, ibig sabihin hindi ka na fully aligned sa opisyal SDA belief. Parang isang taong nagsasabing faithful Christian siya pero hindi naman naniniwala kay Jesus Christ.

Ganun din sa Adventism, Ellen White isn’t just an optional part; she’s foundational to the identity and structure of SDA theology.

Pero bakit marami pa ring nananatili kahit di na naniniwala sa kanya?

Simple lang emotional at cultural loyalty.

1. Family ties.

Lahat ng kaibigan, pamilya, at social circle nila ay Adventist pa rin. Mahirap talikuran ‘yun lalo kung mula pagkabata, SDA environment na ang kinalakihan mo.

2. Sabbath habit.

Sanay na sa Sabbath rhythm walang trabaho tuwing Sabado, may church fellowship, may potluck, may routine. So kahit hindi na sila naniniwala kay Ellen White, parang lifestyle na ang Sabbath.

3. Fear of identity crisis.

Kapag umalis, parang mawawala ka sa tribe mo. Kaya ang iba, sinasabi nalang, “I’m still Adventist, but I only follow the Bible.”

Pero ito ang theological reality:

Kung hindi ka na naniniwala na si Ellen White ay an inspired messenger, you’ve already left historic Adventism, whether you admit it or not.

Kasi:

• Ang Sabbath doctrine, sanctuary teaching, investigative judgment, at health reform lahat ‘yan ay na-form at na-develop sa pamamagitan ng “visions” ni Ellen White.

• Wala sa mga founders ng SDA (sina James White, Joseph Bates, at iba pa) ang may ganitong mga doktrina bago dumating ang “visions” ni Ellen White.

So, kung tinatanggal mo si Ellen White sa SDA system, parang tinatanggal mo ‘yung cornerstone  matitibag ang buong building.

Closing Thought:

“You can reject Ellen White, but once you do, you’ve also rejected the foundation of Adventism itself. You may still attend on Sabbath, but you’re no longer standing on the same theology. At that point, you’re not an SDA you’re just someone who happens to rest on Saturday.”

Kaya nga marami sa mga ganitong Sabadista, kapag nagsimula nang magbasa ng Bible apart from Ellen White’s filter, ay eventually lumalabas sa SDA at nagiging Bible-only Christians at doon nila totoong nakikilala si Jesus, hindi bilang “Examiner sa Judgment,” kundi bilang Savior who already finished the work.

Former Adventists Philippines

“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”

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